Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer

Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra—the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.
Having recently lost her beloved Auntie—the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra—Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .
Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?

Goodreads Summary

This book is the continuation of Meri's tale concerning her new discovery that she is a Fenestra, one of the few who can literally open up a window to allow souls to go through.  Meri is just as resilient as ever; she lost her family and now her mentor, but she still holds on-partly due to Tens's comforting presence.  Meri and Tens discover that there may be another Fenestra who needs their help.  They travel to find her, quite by accident though.  They encounter quite a few interesting secondary characters, some who appear as if they should be Meri's enemies...but aren't, and some who Meri has yet to make up her mind about. 

Tens and Meri continue to develop their relationship through this stressful time.  Meri isn't sure what Tens wants...she's not sure if she wants to give him "something more" quite yet.  Tens appears content to remain as they are, openly loving Meri.  This frustrates Meri, who is on the fence whether to take their relationship the proverbial step further or not.  The reader will enjoy watching their relationship unfold and grow i the pages of this novel.

Juliet, the other possible Fenestra in trouble, is in an orphanage.  She is ill-used and her safety is compromised in her current situation.  She is caring and sweet, helping the younger kids and, like Meri, is very resilient.  She recently lost Kieran, a boy she thought she had a crush on...until she learns that he is changed later in the novel.  She desperately needs the help and guidance that Tens and Meri can possibly provide for her.  The secret of her parentage is also discussed in the book...leading to a shocking ending. 

The plot is the same as the first novel's, just as entertaining and unusual.  The events are fairly fast-paced, some of the scenes are charged with emotion while some are more low-key.  The characters are all fairly likable, the main characters will probably become almost like friends to the reader.  This is a huge book, plenty of chapters to sift through, but the reader will finish quickly as it is not an easy book to put down.  This book is recommended to young adults/teens who enjoy fantasy mixed with romance.

4 Stars